Drink

Mid-week tipple: A rare party Lidl find and Fleurie

Each week John Wilson finds two wines to try at home

Wed Nov 9 2016 - 10:15

Lidl Grüner Veltliner, Wachau Reserve 2015

€10.99

I was intrigued to spot this bottle on the shelves of my local Lidl recently: Domane Wachau are one of the better producers in the Wachau, Austria’s premium wine-growing region. Grüner Veltliner is the country’s best known grape.  You rarely find it at this price though. The wine is very quaffable and would be worth buying in quantity if you are planning a party over the next month. Medium-bodied with plump tropical fruits and a rounded finish. It will also partner up nicely to a wide variety of foods; lightly-spiced Asian chicken and prawn dishes spring to mind.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2) prevents oxidation in a wine and wards off harmful bacteria. All wines contain small amounts

Aldi  Exquisite Collection Fleurie 2015

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€9.99

Fleurie is one of the best known villages within the Beaujolais region. Here the Gamay grape produces wines that are ready to drink from the moment they are bottled. The best Fleurie are a step up, wonderful scented age-worthy wine; I cannot claim the Aldi version falls into this category, but it is a very pleasant light juicy wine with crunchy ripe fruits from the excellent 2015 vintage. Serve cool rather than chilled with a plate of  cold meats, cheeses and salad.